MADIGAN CROSS

(A.K.A. Roran M. Thorne)

Line and Copy Editing | Manuscript Feedback

Professional line and copy editor of dark fantasy and related genres, helping authors wrangle lore, tune pacing, and cement the grit.

Hi. I had basically nuked my entire online presence until a few weeks ago.
Then I foolishly tried to reboot it all at once and kept ignoring the carefully constructed plan.

Screen reader and accessibility notice:

I am actively in the process of fixing the navigation issues. In the meantime, you can email me for a plain text exact copy of this site's contents if necessary.

AI POLICY

I understand the editing process can be frustrating. The very real ethical, environmental, and legal concerns surrounding LLM and generative AI don't make it any less stressful.

I'm against generative AI. I do not use it in any part of my process.

AI can't be trusted with the nuances of language, and it lacks the context of human experience necessary to make determinations—especially when it comes to the unique voices of genre fiction or the contents of darker subgenres.Editing is us working together to bring the best version forward. AI will never be part of that process.

Not sure if your character arc is on track? Do you feel like you've written yourself into a corner? Trying to figure out if you have too much world building or not enough? Looking for some help with the grammar, spelling, and your writing style?

You may already have an idea of what kind of services you're looking for, but don't worry if you're uncertain. One of the first steps is confirming the best option to meet your needs. What follows is a brief overview of the core services I offer for novel manuscripts, comic books/graphic novels, serial publications, and even the occasional script.You can always reach out for more information or with specific questions.

Manuscript Evaluation

This is where to go for insight into big-picture elements. Particularly useful for identifying areas of major concern regarding plot, pacing, characters, and lore.The scope and depth of assessment lies in between a beta read and developmental edit, and a manuscript evaluation can be a good preparation step before a deeper developmental round. Check out this article for a detailed breakdown of the difference between beta reads, assessment/evaluation, and developmental edits.While there may be the occasional comment or query returned with the manuscript, the bulk of feedback will be limited to a revision letter.

CASE EDITING

This extremely valuable tool for editors, authors, and publishers is a form of specialized manuscript evaluation. This service is designed to vet a manuscript for issues of (mis)representation, biases, stereotypes, and other factors that could be deemed harmful or antagonistic to a person or population group.More detailed information can be found in this interview with Hannah Gómez.I read for multiple areas of concern including mental health, neurodivergence, sex/gender, LGBTQIA+ and queer topics. Please reach out for additional information and specifics.If I do not read for it specifically, I can refer you to someone.

You can ask specific questions here

LINE EDITING

Line editing is also sometimes known as substantive editing or stylistic editing.This is the stage where sentences are evaluated for necessity, intent, clarity, tone, structural variation, and much more. This stage involves more suggestions and possibilities for enhancing the flow, unique voice, pacing, and is all about helping take things to the next level.This pairs well with copy editing.

COPY EDITING

This is about the technical aspects. Grammar, syntax, tenses, fact checking, pronoun consistency and agreement, and all the other fiddly bits covered in reference materials like Chicago Manual of Style.While less concerned with stylistic choices, a deeper copy edit can sometimes include restructuring sentences, selecting stronger word choices, or other minor suggestions to enhance readability.This is the stage where the rules are enforced or deliberately broken.This pairs well with line editing.

POST-TRANSLATION/AMERICAN LOCALIZING

American English has distinctly different rules from British English for punctuation, quotation marks, and spelling. A translation will sometimes retain sentence structures of the original, be too literal, or contain idioms, themes, or concepts and cultural hallmarks that literally get lost in translation.The scope can vary significantly, and it's therefore safe to expect a thorough consultation for translated works.I will not work on AI/machine learning translations. I am happy to refer you to a human translator when a translation is required.

• rates

BACK COVER BLURBS

It can be extremely difficult to summarize an entire world, conflict, and the key characters, nevermind in a way that makes someone curious enough to pick it up. Especially if you have a character limit.And catchy one-liners that hook and summarize? Not always as easy as some people make it look.Assessment, line or copy edits, or one-on-one assistance on how to write it. The materials returned and the particular process depend heavily on your needs, but will be agreed on before we begin.

AUTHOR BIO

This is another one that's easy to second guess into oblivion.More details to come, but if you're hitting a wall and need a hand now, don't hesitate to reach out.

• rates

Regardless of service, you will receive a tracked changes copy in addition to a clean copy. A style sheet for your manuscript is included in copy, line, and localization work. Style sheets can be drafted during assessment stages but are not always ready to be finalized.My recommendation for the order of editing rounds:
- evaluation/assessment
- developmental
- line
- copy
- proof

My rates are typically aligned with the EFA median rates for a given service, but can vary based on the genre, depth of editing, turnaround, and medium.Comics/graphic novels may be subject to a page rate based on project needs and services requested. Blurbs and author bio assistance is almost always a flat rate. Services are otherwise priced by the word.

Per word prices are as follows:

Manuscript evaluation: $0.015–0.018Cultural Accuracy and Sensitivity Evaluations: $0.013–0.02Copy editing: $0.02–0.029Line editing: $0.027–0.04Localization: $0.03–0.045Blurbs: Starting at $30 depending on needsAuthor Bio: Starting at $10 depending on needs

Promotions, Bundles, Payment Options

Services can be bundled for less than what you would pay individually.Free samples are limited to 1,500 words and may be subject to a slightly longer turnaround time.Milestone payments are much the same as a payment plan, but also a good option for serial installments and publications.Promotions vary based on my availability. When they're available, I post about it on my social media and include it in my Northwest Editors Guild profile.Sample edits are available for the first 1,500 words of a manuscript. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions regarding samples of other types of media.

Tapas Entertainment | Localization Editor, American English | Freelance | Line and Copy Editing | Over 58 comic and novel titles | 1,127 chapters at approximately 2.5+ million words

Yen Press | Copy Editor and Proofreading | Freelance

Kevin Anderson & Associates | Cultural Accuracy and Sensitivity Editor | Freelance

Madigan’s clear and concise understanding of industry standards. . .as well as a keen eye for story, made them crucial in the writing process. . .Their critiques helped me think from a different perspective and provided me with alternative solutions that I took wholeheartedly.Madigan’s eyes as an editor were invaluable in helping find various plot holes throughout the story, making sure to keep story beats such as injuries and character direction consistent.Madigan is extremely hardworking and I find their knowledge and skill sets invaluable, I would consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to work with them on a team in the future. Their dedication and passion to their craft is evident in the results.— Alex Karpati

I knew I could always count on them for the highest quality of work, always on time, always meticulously executed and free of errors.They were a delight to work with on a personal level. We could joke around, have fun, chat about our favorite scenes or characters, and know that it would never interfere with getting the job done.. . .If you're looking for an editor, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one than Madigan.— Ryan Lereve

FAQ coming soon

Who this is for and what I do

I work with new and experienced indie, self-publishing authors who are struggling with keeping the mechanics and details of their world straight. People who can't figure out what's going on with the pacing or are afraid they're including too much world building.People who feel confident in their story, but just need a knowledgeable human to find the errors their brain is skipping over.

I work on serials, novels, comics, graphic novels, and the occasional script in multiple SFF genres.My genre specialties include:

My Process

First thing is connecting to discuss your project. You don't need to pitch me like a query letter to check my availability; I'm absolutely fine with direct, blunt, or half-joking approaches as long as there's enough context to know that you're genuinely trying to get in touch.I have an intake form that covers some broad strokes like word count, genre, your goals, when you're thinking about getting started and what services you're most interested in.

I do the majority of my work asynchronously and over text-based communication, but I do offer alternative methods of communication like Zoom. For peace of mind, I'll make sure that you have a backup method of getting in touch with me when we discuss communication preferences and schedules.Other things you can expect to discuss include rates and turnaround times, sample edits, and any other questions or concerns you have.There will be a contract in place that confirms the details we agreed upon. The editing work can begin only after it's been signed.

Style Guide

SFF is known for unusual names, constructed languages (conlang), and formatting needs that fall outside of style guides. Any deviations in spelling or formatting that are important to your project will always be discussed, confirmed, and documented.Consistency is the name of the game.For everything else, I use the Chicago Manual of Style alongside the Merriam-Webster dictionary in keeping with industry standards for fiction.I'm happy to discuss the use of different guides or dictionaries where appropriate (such as for works of non-fiction or British English).

File Types

In keeping with industry standards, .docx files are preferred. This is not always the ideal format when it comes to other media types of course, in which case we will discuss this before editing begins and come to an agreement.In all cases, I will prioritize the ability to utilize a Track Changes or markup feature.

Finding an editor shouldn't be hard.

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EMAILCLIENT INTAKE FORM

I have written a ridiculous number of different versions. For now, I'll leave the following.Based in the PNW, I collect hobbies the way other people collect stamps. I'm a member of the Northwest Editors Guild, the Freelancers Union, and Club Ed—additonally, I'm currently enrolled in their certificate program for Developmental Editing in Fiction.
You'll never prove I'm not secretly three goblins stacked in a trench coat, much the same way I'll never prove that my cat isn't possessed by an unemployed Border Collie.

I commissioned [Madigan Cross] to assist with developmental editing and copyediting a screenplay for an animated short film project. I provided them with an early draft of the screenplay which they proceeded to provide multiple detailed edits and notes on. [Madigan]’s clear and concise understanding of industry standards such as MLA formatting, as well as a keen eye for story, made them crucial in the writing process.[Madigan] assisted in cutting down a bloated 52-page document to a concise, 12-page story that flowed logically for a 5 minute short film. They provided multiple possible solutions for areas I was unsure of or had hit writer’s block on. Their critiques helped me think from a different perspective and provided me with alternative solutions that I took wholeheartedly. One example where I struggled to connect scenes together fluidly [Madigan] gave the suggestion to have the dialogue carry on as voice-over to the next scene. This solution helped maintain the narrative tension and in turn provided creative shortcuts for myself when I animated the scene, such as not needing to focus on facial animation for the voice-over shots.Additionally, [Madigan]’s eyes as an editor were invaluable in helping find various plotholes throughout the story, making sure to keep story beats such as injuries and character direction consistent. One of the really surprising moments where [Madigan] went above and beyond was while I was struggling to find a solution within Final Draft for giving multiple options for a line of dialogue. [Madigan] was quick to find the alternative dialogue tool as well as research and provide a multitude of in-universe phrases for me to pick from.[Madigan] is extremely hardworking and I find their knowledge and skillsets invaluable, I would consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to work with them on a team in the future. Their dedication and passion to their craft is evident in the results.— Alex Karpati

_{This review was originally published on other social media utilizing other A.K.A.s}

At Tapas, new series came in fairly regularly, each with its own team of localizers. Whenever I was offered a new assignment and I saw [Madigan]'s name on the list, it was an immediate (and enthusiastic) acceptance. I knew I could always count on them for the highest quality of work, always on time, always meticulously executed and free of errors.In other words, they always made my job as easy as possible, and what's more, they were a delight to work with on a personal level. We could joke around, have fun, chat about our favorite scenes or characters, and know that it would never interfere with getting the job done. We shared a borderline obsession with making sure our submitted work was perfect, so when it would be published for thousands or even millions of readers to enjoy, they would be getting the best possible localization of their webcomics and webnovels.I will forever be sad that Tapas was shut down before we had a chance to work together more, but I am grateful for having had the chance to team up as long as we did. If you're looking for an editor, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one than [Madigan].— Ryan Lereve

_{This review was originally published on other social media utilizing other A.K.A.s}